These are cross-border stories that connect us. Border people often inhabit this in-between place. From KPBS and California Humanities, “Port of Entry” tells personal stories from this place — stories of love, hope, struggle, and survival from border crossers, fronterizxs, and other people whose lives are shaped around the wall. Rooted in San Diego and Tijuana, we are a transborder podcast for transborder people. We live life on la linea. Hosted by Alan Lilienthal and Natalie Gonzalez, written and produced by Julio C. Ortiz Franco, mixed and sound designed by Adrian Villalobos, and edited by Melissa Sandoval.
Episodio Bonus: Comic-Conners Transfronterizos
Hola Amigoooooos!!
Este pasado verano, Natalie y nuestro diseñador sonoro Adrian Villalobos tuvieron la oportunidad de experimentar el fenómeno de la cultura pop que es Comic-Con; pero…. a través de algunos de sus fans más devotos de Tijuana. Esta experiencia destacó cómo el evento ha trascendido fronteras, convirtiéndose en un ritual anual no solo para la población de San Diego, sino también para muchos en Tijuana.
Redes sociales y contacto
De KPBS, Port of Entry cuenta historias que c
Bonus Episode: Cross-Border Comic-Conners
This past summer, our host Natalie and sound designer Adrian plunged into the heart of the pop culture phenomenon known as Comic-Con, experiencing it through the eyes of its most devoted fans in Tijuana. Their journey highlighted how the event transcends the San Diego border, evolving into a cross-border celebration that has become an annual ritual for many in Tijuana.
Happy Holidays & Happy New Year!
Social media and contact
From KPBS, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that co
Episodio Bonus: ¿Qué puede esperar la comunidad fronteriza de un segundo mandato de Trump?
Con un segundo mandato de Trump a la vuelta de la esquina, se anticipan políticas que generan preocupación a la comunidad fronteriza como deportaciones masivas y aranceles en importaciones mexicanas. Estas medidas, junto a los nombramientos de su gabinete, amenazan con tener implicaciones serias.
Para explorar estas cuestiones y comprender las expectativas de quienes cruzan la frontera hemos invitado a Gustavo Solis, Reportero de Investigación Fronteriza de KPBS, para conversar sobre qué espe
Bonus Episode: What can the border community expect from a second Trump term
With a second Trump term around the corner, significant policy proposals have sparked widespread concern—from mass deportations to potential tariffs on Mexican imports. These developments, alongside Trump's cabinet selections, have particularly poignant implications for border communities. To delve into these issues and understand the expectations of border commuters, we invited Gustavo Solis, KPBS's Investigative Border Reporter, to join us for a discussion on what might lie ahead.
Social me
Episodio Bonus: El equipo de Port of Entry recuerda a sus difuntos
El Día de Muertos es una celebración de la vida y la muerte que nos invita a recordar y honrar a las personas que amamos que han fallecido. En este episodio bonus, el equipo de Port of Entry comparte algunas memorias y reflexiones de los seres queridos que ya no están con nosotros. A través de estos recuerdos, reflexionamos sobre el impacto que estas personas han tenido en nuestras vidas y el legado que dejan. Acompáñenos para un emotivo tributo que celebra la vida, la memoria y la familia.
R
Bonus Episode: The Port of Entry team remembers their late loved ones
Day of the Dead is a celebration of life and death that invites us to remember and honor the people we love who have passed away. In this special Day of the Dead episode, The Port of Entry team shares personal stories and cherished teachings from loved ones who have passed away. Through these memories, they reflect on the impact these individuals have had on our lives and the legacy they leave behind. Tune in for a touching tribute that celebrates life, memory, and family.
Social media and co
Episodio Bonus: La Faraona de Agua Caliente
Como cualquier otra ciudad, Tijuana tiene su folklore y sus leyendas escalofriantes. Una de esas historias es la leyenda de La Faraona, la bailarina que ronda los terrenos de lo que solía ser el viejo Resort y Casino Agua Caliente, ahora la preparatoria Lázaro Cárdenas.
Hablamos con Fernando Escobedo (https://www.facebook.com/joferes29?rdid=hobyJJtDjsRPc8DR&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F5KZxza5JKGR8fSVS%2F), historiador de Tijuana que ha investigado la vida de Esperanza L
Bonus Episode: La Faraona of Agua Caliente
Like any other city, Tijuana is full of folklore and scary legends. One of those tales is the legend of La Faraona, the dancer who haunts the grounds of what used to be the old Agua Caliente Resort and Casino, now Lazaro Cardenas High School. We talk to Fernando Escobedo (https://www.facebook.com/joferes29?rdid=hobyJJtDjsRPc8DR&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F5KZxza5JKGR8fSVS%2F), a Tijuana historian who has researched the story of Esperanza Lopez Padilla, the woman behind La
La Escala Planetaria, parte 2: Tu propia casa (de arcilla), bonita y barata
Dejamos nuestro último episodio preguntándonos sobre los costos de construir una casa con derivados de la arcilla. ¡Resulta que es barato! Entonces, si es barato, ¿más personas han aprovechado la oportunidad de construir de esta manera? y ¿por qué no se ha popularizado en entornos urbanos?
Para responder a estas preguntas, continuamos la conversación con Miguel Ángel Pérez, un bioconstructor de Baja, y hablamos sobre los costos de la construcción con arcilla. Tambien charlamos con Rachel Form
The Planetary Scale, part 2: Your very own affordable (clay) home
We left our last episode wondering about the costs of building a house with earth or clay materials. Turns out it's cheap! So if it's cheap? Have more people jumped on the opportunity to build this way and why hasn't it taken hold in urban settings?
To answer these questions, We follow up with Miguel Angel Perez an earthbuilder from Baja, and talk about the costs of earthbuilding and chat with Rachel Formanek, a New Yorker who moved from California to Baja to find better and affordable livin
La Escala Planetaria, parte 1
Nos encontramos en medio de una crisis ambiental, y nuestro estilo de vida actual está en conflicto con los sistemas naturales que posibilitan nuestra existencia, especialmente cuando se trata de construir nuestras casas. En Baja un colectivo de bioconstructores llamado Tequio ha implementado un método milenario que podría ayudar a aliviar estas presiones ambientales.
En el episodio de hoy, nos sentamos con Alex Santander, un arquitecto basado en Tijuana para hablar sobre construir un futuro
The Planetary Scale, part 1
We're in the midst of an environmental crisis, and our current urban lifestyles clash with the natural systems that support our existence, especially when it comes to building our homes. An earth-building collective in Baja called Tequio is taking an age-old approach to construction that may help ease these environmental pressures. In today's episode, we sit with Alex Santander, a Tijuana-based architect to talk about building a future that's in harmony with the planet. Plus, we joined Tequio me
El Derecho a la Ciudad
La congestión vial es un problema enorme en Tijuana y San Diego. Si conduces durante el día, seguramente te tocará estar en algún embotellamiento de tráfico. Entonces, ¿deberíamos construir más carreteras para aliviar la congestión del tráfico? En este episodio, quisimos explorar qué es lo que impide a los Tijuanenses obtener una mejor calidad de vida. La respuesta nos sorprendió.
Conversamos con los arquitectos y urbanistas René Peralta y Sharlinee Ceniceros Toscano, y Andrew Bowen de KPBS,
The Right to The City
Traffic is a huge problem in Tijuana and San Diego. If you drive around during the day, you will most certainly be caught in a traffic jam. So should we build more roads to ease traffic congestion? In this episode, we wanted to explore what is keeping residents of Tijuana from a better quality of life. The answer took us by surprise.
Join us in our conversations with architects and urbanists René Peralta and Sharlinee Ceniceros Toscano, and KPBS’ own Andrew Bowen, to hear their take on what is
WDC: El Diseño llegó a la Ciudad(es)
Iniciamos nuestra nueva temporada con la historia de cómo Tijuana y San Diego ganaron la designación de Capital Mundial del Diseño 2024. Hablamos con Jorge Francisco Sánchez y Catalina Silva, dos colaboradores del equipo de Tijuana sobre cómo lograron la designación en conjunto con el equipo de San Diego y qué hizo que su propuesta destacara.
¡No te pierdas este primer episodio de nuestra nueva temporada!
Redes sociales y contacto
De KPBS, Port of Entry cuenta historias que cruzan front
WDC 2024: Design comes to Town(s)!
We kick off our newest season with the story of how Tijuana and San Diego won the designation as World Design Capital of 2024. We spoke with Jorge Francisco Sanchez and Catalina Silva, two contributors of the Tijuana side of the team as to how they landed the designation as well as what made their proposal stand out.
You won't want to miss the first episode of our newest season!
Nos vemos pronto!
About Season 6
Port of entry has a fresh new season for you with more rich stories of ou
Episodio Bonus: 8 de Marzo
En este episodio bonus, Natalie nos lleva a través de la marcha del Día Internacional de la Mujer en el corazón de Tijuana. En esta fecha, mujeres de todos los ámbitos se reunen para exigir justicia, igualdad y el fin de la violencia contra las mujeres en México. Acompañamos mientras navegamos los sonidos y testimonios de resiliencia y solidaridad que hacen de este 8 de marzo un evento tan transcendente.
No te pierdas este episodio!
Nos vemos pronto!
Port of Entry tiene una nueva tempo
Bonus Episode: March 8th
On this bonus episode, our host Natalie takes us on her journey through the International Women's Day march in the heart of Tijuana. On this special date, Women from all backgrounds gathered to call for justice, equality, and an end to violence against women in Mexico.
Join us as we navigate the sights and sounds of the collective spirit of resilience and solidarity that make this March 8th such a transformative event.
You won't want to miss this episode.
Nos vemos pronto!
About Season 6
Season 6 - Visionaries and Shapers of the Borderlands!
Hola Amigoooooos!!
Port of entry has a fresh new season for you with more rich stories of our border region. This time around, we are spotlighting Shapers and Visionaries of borderlands. Stories of People who are impacting the region and in some cases the world with their work and research. From urbanism to architecture to education and politics and to art and robotics!
Come and join us in this new season. New season drops April 17th
Nos vemos pronto!
@portofentrypod
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Amal: Esperanza llega a la Frontera!
¡Que shouuuuu amigos!
Actualmente estamos en receso de producción trabajando en nuestra próxima temporada. Pero no queríamos perder la oportunidad de hablarles sobre Amal, un títere gigante de 3.5 metros de altura que anda esparciendo un mensaje de esperanza donde quiera que va. ¡Acompáñenos para escuchar sobre el impacto que esta marioneta tuvo en las personas que la vieron y en nosotros mientras estuvo aquí!
¡Nos vemos Pronto!
@portofentrypod
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Port of Entry está en u
Amal: Hope comes to the Borderlands!
Hola Friends!
We are currently on a production break working on our next season.
But we didn't want to miss this opportunity to talk to you about Amal, a 12-foot-sized puppet girl who spreads a message of hope wherever she goes. Join us to listen to find out the impact she made on the locals and us while she was here!
Nos vemos pronto!
@portofentrypod
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Port of Entry is in a production hiatus! We will be back with more stories soon!
Follow hosts Natali Gonzale
Jardín de las Mariposas: Un Espacio Seguro para Migrantes Queer en Tijuana
¡Hola amigos!
Antes de cerrar esta temporada y tomar un pequeño descanso, queríamos dejarlos con la historia de Jardín de las Mariposas, un albergue en Tijuana exclusivamente para migrantes queer. Este albergue ha impactado las vidas de miles de personas queer que huyen de la violencia o que enfrentan discriminación en su país de origen, siempre con el objetivo de apoyar los refugiados con techo y comida para que puedan a definir su próximo paso en su vida. ¡No se pueden perder esta inspirado
Jardín de las Mariposas: A Safe Space for Queer Migrants in Tijuana
Hola Friends!
Before we close this season and take a little break, we wanted to leave you with the story of Jardín de las Mariposas, a shelter in Tijuana exclusively for queer migrants. This shelter has impacted the lives of thousands of queer folks who are fleeing violence and face discrimination in their land of origin and is helping many more figure out their next move in life. You won't want to miss this inspiring story of hope!
Nos vemos pronto!
@portofentrypod
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Encontrando tu Voz - Pte 2 - Andrés
¡Hola friends!
Ya casi terminamos de contar historias LGBTQ+ de la región fronteriza. En esta edición, hablamos con Andrés Hernández, una escritora y artista visual transgenero no binaria de Tijuana, quien nos cuenta la historia de cómo el arte le ayudó a lidiar con las difíciles realidades de ser queer en Tijuana y nos compartió parte de sus luchas intentando descubrir quién es.
No te pierdas esta historia de resiliencia.
¡Feliz año nuevo! ¡Nos vemos pronto!
Si tú o alguien que co
Finding Your Voice - Part 2 - Andres
Hola Friends!
We are almost done showcasing LGBTQ+ stories of the region. In this edition, we talk to Andres Hernandez, a Non-Binary Writer and visual artist from Tijuana. She retells the story of how art helped her cope with the difficult realities of being queer in Tijuana and shares part of her struggles of coming out to her family and figuring out who she is.
You won't want to miss this uplifting story of resilience!
Nos vemos pronto!
If you or anyone you know is a rape survivor
Episodio Bonus: Los Nuevos Desafíos de la Comunidad Queer en Baja
Hola Friends!
Port of Entry anda con todo y esta temporada estamos compartiendo historias LGBTQ+ de la región. En este episodio bonus, Natalie y nuestro productor Julio se sientan con los protagonistas de nuestros dos primeros episodios, Alejandro Sánchez y Meritxell Calderon para conversar sobre algunos temas que no lograron salir al aire ; desde acontecimientos actuales hasta la nueva frontera de los derechos queer y humanos en Baja. (pequeño spoiler: Alex y Meritxell no se conocían) Caile
Bonus Episode: New Challenges Facing the Queer Community in Baja!
Hola Friends!
Port of Entry is in full swing showcasing LGBTQ+ stories of the region. In this edition, Natalie and our producer Julio sit down for a video conversation with the features of our first two episodes, Alejandro Sánchez and Meritxell Calderon. They discussed a wide range of issues facing the queer community in Baja that didn't make it into the final cut. From current events to the new frontier of queer and human rights in Baja. (little spoiler: they never met each other!)
You won
Encontrando tu Voz Interior - Xaime y Raquelita
Hola Friends!
Port of Entry continúa su temporada mostrando historias LGBTQ+ de la región. En esta edición, nos sentamos con Xaime Aceves Equihua, un terapeuta y artista Drag de la región de San Diego Tijuana. Debido al rechazo que enfrentó desde temprana edad, Xaime encontró difícil permitirse ser quien era hasta que encontró una manera de poder expresarse: el Drag, o el transformismo
Ahora lidera una serie titulada "Drag Story Time" en la región junto a su compañero Francisco, para promov
Finding your Inner Voice - Xaime and Raquelita
Hola Friends!
Port of Entry is showcasing LGBTQ+ stories of the region. In this edition, we sit down with Xaime Aceves, a therapist, and Drag Artist from the San Diego Tijuana region. Due to rejection he faced early in his life, Xaime found it challenging to allow himself to be who he was until he found an outlet: Drag. He now leads a series of Drag Story Time in the region with his duo, Francisco, to promote visibility and acceptance of queer youth in the region.
You won't want to miss this
La Lucha por el Matrimonio Igualitario en Baja - Parte 2 - Alejandro
¡Que onda amigos!
Continuamos nuestro inicio de temporada con la última parte de nuestro primer episodio: La lucha por el Matrimonio Igualitario en Baja California. En esta segunda parte, nos unimos a Alejandro, un analista de políticas públicas y activista de derechos queer de Mexicali. A través del poder de las redes sociales, Alejandro logró movilizar a las masas a favor de una iniciativa que revocó con éxito la prohibición del matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo en el estado de Baja.
The Fight for Marriage Equality in Baja - Part 2 - Alejandro
Hola Friends!
We continue our season kick-off with the second part of our two-part series: The Fight for Marriage Equality in Baja. In this second part, we join Alejandro, a policy analyst and queer rights activist from Mexicali. Through the power of social media, Alejandro was able to mobilize the masses in favor of an initiative that successfully repealed the same-sex marriage ban in the state of Baja. You don't want to miss the conclusion of this historic achievement!
Join us as he shar
La Lucha por el Matrimonio Igualitario en Baja - Parte 1 - Meritxell y Nancy
Hola Friends!
Lanzamos nuestra nueva temporada destacando historias LGBTQ+ de la región con un episodio de dos partes: La lucha por el matrimonio igualitario en Baja. En esta primera parte, nos sentamos con Meritxell y Nancy, una pareja queer de Tijuana que ha luchado por los derechos LGBTQ+ en el estado de Baja y en México. Nos comparten su historia de cómo lucharon por el matrimonio igualitario en el estado de Baja.
¡No te pierdas esta increíble historia!
¡Caile!
@portofentrypo
The Fight for Marriage Equality in Baja - Part 1 - Meritxell and Nancy
Hola Friends!
We kick off our new season highlighting LGBTQ+ stories with a two part series: The Fight for Marriage Equality in Baja. In this first part, we sit down with Meritxell and Nancy, a queer couple from Tijuana who have fought for LGBTQ+ rights in the state of Baja and Mexico. They share their story of how they fought to have marriage equality in the State of Baja. Don't miss this amazing story!
Tune in to listen !
@portofentrypod
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Port of Entry has a whole
Season 5 - LGBTQ+ Stories of the region!
Hola Friends!
KPBS’ Port of Entry is back with a new Season and this time we want to highlight LGBTQ+ stories of the region. We sit down with activists, artists and academics to share their stories about what it means to be queer in the borderlands. Our guests share stories of coming out, accepting oneself, and learning to navigate in a world that can be hostile to their being. Our newest season drops October 25! Tune in wherever you get your podcasts!
Tune in!
@portofentrypod
¡Necesitamos Tu Ayuda!¡Participa en Nuestra Encuesta!
¡Hola amigos! ¡Port of Entry tiene noticias para compartir con ustedes!
Cuando lanzamos versiones en español de nuestros episodios, nos sorprendió descubrir que tenemos casi tantos oyentes de español como los de ingles. Que chido no? ¡Se rifan!
Así que nos preguntamos... ¿quiénes son estos oyentes de habla española y desde dónde nos escuchan?
Eeeeeeentonceeeesss….Hemos preparado un breve cuestionario y estaríamos super encantados y agradecidos si pudieras tomarte unos momentos para lle
Take our survey!
Hey amigos! Port of Entry has some exciting news to share with you!
When we released Spanish versions of our episodes, we were blown away to discover that we have almost as many Spanish-speaking listeners as we do English-speaking ones! How incredible is that? You guys rock!
So we are wondering… just who are these Spanish listeners and where are they listening from?!
So, here's the deal: we want to get to know you better and make sure we're bringing you the absolute best content. That'
¡Debut y ¿Despedida?!
Hemos terminado oficialmente con la temporada 4 y estamos en receso preparando la próxima temporada. ¡Pero, queríamos dejarles a ustedes, bellos amigos, con otra razón para sintonizar! ¡Otro episodio bonus! En este episodio, conversamos con nuestros nuevos productores, Julio y Luca, mientras reflexionamos sobre los altibajos de su primera temporada al mando del proyecto y comparten historias acerca de crecer en Tijuana y Quito, Ecuador. También, Luca anuncia una triste noticia que nos hace difíc
Debut and Goodbye…?
We are officially done with season 4 and are on hiatus preparing our next season. Buuuuut, we wanted to leave you beautiful folks with another reason to tune in! Another bonus episode! In this bonus episode, We sit down with our new Producers, Julio and Luca, as we look back on their debut season and they share stories about growing up in Tijuana and Quito, Ecuador. Also, Luca drops some sad news to digest.
Tune in!
@portofentrypod
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Port of Entry has whole new
La corta y breve vida del Intercambio Culinario Mexico-Eurasiatico.
En este producer’s takeover, Julio se encuetra con Ibragim y Yernur, dos migrantes eurasiáticos que llegaron a Tijuana después de huir de sus países de origen; Rusia y Kazajistán. Nos unimos a ellos y otros refugiados en un intercambio culinario improvisado mientras nos cuentan la odisea que atravesaron para solicitar asilo en Estados Unidos.
No se lo pierdan!!
@portofentrypod
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Port of Entry está de regreso ¡Ahora con contenido en español!
Después de una larga pausa,
The short and brief life of the Mexican-EurAsian Culinary Exchange!
In this producer's takeover, Julio talks to Ibrahim and Yernur, two Eurasian migrants who reached Tijuana after they both got into hot water in their native countries of Russia and Kazakhstan. We join them and other refugees for a meal as they talk to us about their journeys to request asylum in the US.
Tune in!
@portofentrypod
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Port of Entry has whole new set of stories with you, this time centered around food and migration.
This season we share several st
Episodio Bonus: Entrevista con Rito Zazueta
En este breve episodio, nuestro productor Julio se sentó con Rito Zazueta, un cineasta independiente de Tijuana/Chula Vista, para discutir la representación de Tijuana en los medios y el impacto y la recepción que ha tenido su documental, Tijuana Dream.
Acompañenos!
@portofentrypod
¡Muchas gracias a Rito Zazueta por permitirnos incluir trozos de su monumental cortometraje en este episodio.
Les dejamos el enlace a su documental.
https://vimeo.com/165060260 Tijuana Dream (2016)
Bonus Episode: Interview with Rito Zazueta
In this brief episode, our producer Julio sat down with Rito Zazueta - an independent filmmaker from Tijuana/Chula Vista to discuss Tijuana's representation in the media and the impact and reception Rito’s documentary- Tijuana Dream- has had.
Tune in!
@portofentrypod
Big thanks to Rito Zazueta for letting us include bits and pieces of her monumental short in this episode. Here's the Link to her documentary.
https://vimeo.com/165060260
Tijuana Dream (2016)
Dir. Rito Zazueta
Prod. Ri
Pura Vida: Un Caso del Tijuana Dream
Ruby y Javier son dos migrantes centroamericanos que operan Pura Vida, un food truck en Playas de Tijuana que ofrece una amplia selección de platillos salvadoreños y costarricenses. Después de que una oportunidad les permitió reubicarse en Tijuana, evalúan la vigencia Sueño Americano y consideran una nueva opción: el Tijuana Dream.
Acompáñenos!
@portofentrypod
¡Muchas gracias a Rito Zazueta por permitirnos incluir trozos de su monumental cortometraje en este episodio.
Les dejamos
Pura Vida: A Case for the Tijuana Dream
Ruby and Javier are two Central American migrants that own and operate Pura Vida a food truck in Playas de Tijuana that offers a wide selection Salvadorian and Costa Rican dishes. After an opportunity saw them to uproot and make it to Tijuana, they reexamine the pull of the American Dream and consider a new option; The TIjuana Dream.
Tune in!
@portofentrypod
Big thanks to Rito Zazueta for letting us include bits and pieces of her monumental short in this episode. Here's the Link to her
Kous Kous: ¡Una Redención Marroquí!
Moumen Nouri dejó Marruecos en busca de nuevas experiencias en los EE. UU. Su sueño americano pronto se convirtió en una pesadilla después de meterse en serios problemas financieros para mantener su restaurante en San Diego a flote. Moumen nos habla de su vida en Marruecos y de cómo un traslado a Valle de Guadalupe le dio una segunda oportunidad para cumplir su sueño de tener su propio restaurante.
No te lo pierdas! caile!
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Port of Entry está de regreso ¡Ahora con contenido en
Kous Kous: A Moroccan Redemption!
Moumen Nouri left Morocco in search of new experiences in the US. His American dream soon turned into a nightmare after getting into some serious financial trouble in order to keep his San Diego restaurant above water. Moumen talks to us about growing and Morocco and how a move to Valle de Guadalupe gave him a second chance to fulfill his dream of owning his restaurant.
Tune in!
@portofentrypod
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Port of Entry is back after a long hiatus and is excited to share a whole
Exxe Alta Parrilla: Un Gaucho En la Baja!
Exxe Caivano es uno de los primeros emprendedores gastronómicos del Valle de Guadalupe. Su vocacion es mostrar de qué se trata el Asado Argentino. Exxe nos habla de cómo fue crecer en la zona rural de Buenos Aires, migrar a Ensenada y comparte una sorpresa inesperada que sólo el fútbol pudo traer a la luz.
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Port of Entry está de regreso ¡Ahora con contenido en español!
Después de una larga pausa, estamos muy emocionados de compartir con ustedes historias nuevas sobre nuevos m
Exxe Alta Parrilla: A Gaucho in Baja!
Exxe Caivano is one of Valle de Guadalupe’s early food entrepreneurs. His passion for life is to show people what the Argentinian Asado is all about. Exxe talks to us about growing up in rural Buenos Aires, migrating to Ensenada, seeing the region grow, and shares an unexpected change that only fútbol could bring out of him.
Tune in!
@portofentrypod
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Port of Entry is back after a long hiatus and is excited to share a whole new set of stories with you, this time center
Berlin 89: ¡Una cryptoembajada para el pueblo!
Alec y Josefina son una pareja la cual el giro de sus vidas es cruzar fronteras; internacionales, financieras y culinarias. Juntos abrieron Berlin 89, un bar y salchicheria en el centro de Tijuana que también opera como una embajada de criptomonedas. Acontecimientos recientes han hecho de su establecimiento un faro de esperanza para aquellos que huyen a raíz del conflicto entre Rusia y Ucrania y que buscan restablecerse en estas tierras fronterizas. No se lo pierda!
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Port of Ent
Berlin 89: A Crypto Embassy for the People!
Alec and Josefina are a couple whose whole spin on life is to breach borders; international, financial and culinary. Together they opened up Berlin 89, a sausage deli bar in downtown Tijuana that doubles as a cryptocurrency embassy. Recent world events have turned their shop into a beacon of hope for those looking for a way to bring a sense of normalcy back into their lives. Tune in!
@portofentrypod
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Port of Entry is back after a long hiatus and is excited to share a whole
Labadee: Un Nuevo Hogar en la Frontera
El 12 de enero del 2010 un terremoto devastador azotó Haití provocando que millares de sus ciudadanos dejaran sus hogares para buscar un mejor futuro en otras partes del mundo. Elena y Petiane son dos refugiadas Haitianas que salieron de su país de origen para encontrar trabajo en América del Sur. Eventualmente llegaron a Tijuana ya que tenían como objetivo cruzar a EE. UU. Sin embargo, después de un giro en sus vidas, decidieron hacer de Tijuana su nuevo hogar.
@portofentrypod
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Labadee: A New Home in the Borderlands
In January 12, 2010 a devastating earthquake hit Haiti that caused a massive exodus of Haitian nationals to look for a better future in other parts of the world. Elena and Petiane are two Haitian refugees who left their home country for South America to find work. They eventually made it to Tijuana as they set their sights on getting to the US, but after a turn of events they decided to make Tijuana their new home.
@portofentrypod
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Port of Entry is back after a long hiat
New Season: Migrants and Food in the Borderlands ( Also: New Producers and PoE en Español)
Hola Amigos!
We are back after a long hiatus ready and super excited to share a whole new set of stories with you.
This March 15 we kick off Season 4! And this season we will be showcasing stories of newcomers to the borderlands who have impacted the culinary Landscape of Baja.
We also have two important announcements we want to share with you.
New team members join the Port of Entry family:
Julio C. Ortiz Franco will be our new Producer/Editor and Luca Vega will take over as Tech
A cross-border theater production trying to change minds about the border
In this episode we profile a bilingual theater experience called The Frontera Project. It is a company of Mexican and US artists that use theater, music, movement and play to actively engage the audience in conversation about life along the US/Mexico Border. Their mission is to encourage audiences to recognize each other across differences and to spark a dialogue about what divides us and what we share.
Port of Entry is back, this time with a series of stories on how the border can change
Ibogaine to treat addiction
Thousands of people cross the U.S.-Mexico border every year to take a psychedelic known as ibogaine. But this isn’t for pleasure, this drug spins most people into a terrifying psychotic trip…but it’s a trip that may help some kick opiate addiction. We follow one man with an addiction issue as he takes this trip, and meet others that are trying to overcome their own drug habits.
Port of Entry is back, this time with a series of stories on how the border can change minds.
Cannabis activism in Tijuana
Cannabis advocates in Tijuana work with the legalized scene in California and get themselves ready for a future where adult-use cannabis is finally legal in Mexico. Not only are they working to get the laws changed in Mexico, they also have to find ways to change the perception of cannabis at the border, which has long been associated with Mexican drug cartels.
Port of Entry is back, this time with a series of stories on how the border can change minds.
Cannabis politician
Cannabis on the border is nothing new – for decades, weed moved north from Mexico into the U.S., an illegal trade that fueled drug cartels and drug violence. But with the legalization of recreational and medicinal cannabis in California and other U.S. states, all of that has changed. In Episode 1 of a new series from Port of Entry, we profile a Tijuana politician and activist who is pushing for legalization of cannabis in Baja California. Port of Entry is back, this time with a series of stori
Border band split by the wall
When COVID-19 rules prevented certain people from crossing the border, “Port of Entry” cohost Alan Lilienthal’s binational, bilingual band Tulengua got separated by the wall. How the partially closed border and the pandemic changed Alan and his bandmates Amari Jordan and Jimmy Mora forever.
More about Tulengua here: https://www.tulengua.mx/
Today’s story is the final episode in our “Port of Entry” season focused on artists and musicians who’ve turned pain into power.
***
From KPBS and PRX,
From brokenness comes beauty
Border artist Michelle Guerrero struggled with addiction for years, but a surprise pregnancy helped her straighten out her life. Eventually, she taught herself how to paint large-scale murals, in part, by painting murals on the actual border fence.
These days, Michelle goes by Mr B Baby, and she travels the West Coast and Mexico, painting huge Mexican-inspired murals in a style that is her own.
Now the artist just has to figure out how to balance being a single mother with her skyrocketing s
Tour Guide: Meet the artists behind the mics
Big news: we have a new cohost!
In our recurring “Tour Guide” bonus episodes, we ask transborder people to take us on a tour of a special place in the borderlands: a place that means a lot to them. Today, our new fronteriza cohost Natalie Gonzalez, along with our longtime fronterizo host Alan Lilienthal, take us on a tour of two of their favorite places in Tijuana and tell us more about their life on la línea.
Today’s episode continues our new season of "Port of Entry" focused on crossborder
A battle with body and brain
Victor Lebowski, better known as the artist Tijuanauta, captures the beauty of the borderlands in his art. His detailed ink drawings are often a mishmash of U.S.-Mexico icons, like Star Wars and taco carts, or astronauts eating carne asada. But for a long time, Tijuanauta refused to sell his art or make art his day job. Instead, he hid behind the safety of his office job and cubicle for a decade. But Tijuanauta recently took the plunge. He became a full-time artist and had his first-ever art sho
Flickering Fame
Mexican musician Javier Bátiz could very likely have been world famous had he headed north of the border with his good friend and bandmate Carlos Santana back in the day. But instead, Javier went south to Mexico City, where he built a successful career in the country he loves. In a new episode of “Port of Entry,” we look into how Javier’s life, decisions and decades-long musical career have brought him internal peace and fulfillment he says is far more important to him than reaching the high-lev
Hustle, Hustle, Hustle
You know what they say about one man’s trash becoming another’s treasure, right? At the border, the journey from trash to treasure often involves an actual trip from San Diego to Tijuana, where things like furniture, appliances and other used or discarded objects find a second life. But, of course, those objects don’t move themselves. The whole cross-border, second-hand world involves people like Seth Sullivan, aka “Art Pusher,” one of the best-known “pickers” in the borderlands. Seth is a fireb
New Season: Border Artists Turning Pain Into Power
From PRX and KPBS, "Port of Entry" is back with a new season on Oct. 13.
We’re bringing you stories of border artists and musicians who’ve turned pain into superpowers.
Live: ‘Book of Life’ Director Jorge Gutierrez
Film director and animator Jorge Gutierrez grew up crossing the border between Tijuana and San Diego almost every day.
That cross-border experience can be seen in the work Jorge does today.
Jorge is the director of the animated movie, “The Book of Life.” He’s also one of the creators of the hit Nickelodeon show “El Tigre.” And he’s got several new projects coming out on Netflix soon. One of those projects is “Maya and the Three,” an animated series that will be released on Netflix in October.
Bonus: Fido Goes South
In this bonus episode, meet a woman who takes people’s pets from San Diego to Tijuana for more affordable veterinary care. It’s a story about the great lengths we’ll go to for our furry friends.
Meet other Port of Entry listeners by joining our Transborder group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/755492908437157
More info about MexiVet Express: https://www.mexivetexpress.com/
From KPBS and PRX, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us.
Keep these border stories c
Bonus: ‘Like Someone Turned Off A Faucet’
In a new “Port of Entry” bonus episode: One Baja chef’s pandemic story and the camera crew who followed it.
Valle de Guadalupe has exploded over the last decade. It’s become a hugely popular wine and food destination for people from around the world. But when the pandemic hit, the flood of tourism to the culinary region just completely stopped at first, then slowly turned into a trickle. A new one-hour special on KPBS called “Ingrediente” tells the story of how Valle de Guadalupe chef Drew Dec
50 Years Of Friendship Park
On August 18, 1971, First Lady Pat Nixon stood at the place at the southwestern most point of the U.S.-Mexico border and celebrated what was envisioned as "International Friendship Park.” That day, Nixon said, “I hope there won't be a fence too long here.”
Flash forward 50 years, and the small barbed-wire fence that once demarcated the border has been replaced with two large fences, dozens of cameras, a watch tower and other security measures.
In this special bonus episode produced as part o
Tour Guide: Shinpei Takeda
In this “Tour Guide” bonus episode, borderless artist Shinpei Takeda takes us on a tour of his exhibition, “Fantasia Moral” (“Moral Fantasy”), which is showing at the art museum in Tijuana, CECUT, through Aug. 8.
“Port of Entry” is currently working on our next season, which will be released this fall. Until then, we hope you enjoy a few of these shorter bonus episodes in your feed.
Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast)
Special Report: ‘Here We Are’
Increasing numbers of asylum seekers are being allowed to enter the United States. But with the asylum system still severely curtailed, thousands remain stuck in dangerous conditions in Tijuana.
KPBS reporter Max Rivlin-Nadler has been following the story for months. His reporting is featured in a new special report for the “KPBS Investigates” and “Port of Entry” podcasts.
In the episode, Rivlin-Nadler follows the painfully long wait many asylum seekers have had to endure, simply for a chanc
Moved By Music: Phil Beaumont Of The Color Forty Nine
Phil Beaumont, lead vocalist of the San Diego band, The Color Forty Nine, has been belting out tunes since he was a kid living in England back in the ’70s. After he landed in Southern California for high school and college, he eventually made his way south to Tijuana to see show after show at the legendary music venue Iguana’s. Over time, Phil found himself crossing the border a lot, spending hours writing poetry and lyrics at his favorite bar, Dandy Del Sur.
In our recurring “Moved by Music”
I Left My Stomach In Tijuana
We continue our series on medical tourism at the border with a story about a plus-size model who’s proud of her big body, but has health issues that lead her to undergo weight-loss surgery in Tijuana, where it's more affordable.
It’s a story about beauty and health and how a young woman is carving out her own corner of the world, creating a space where she fits in, no matter what size or shape or how she got there.
Follow Tanzania on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanzania_akiaa/
Gue
Making Babies At The Border
A California couple tries one more time to have a baby by crossing the border and getting fertility treatment in Tijuana. It’s a story about the lengths you’ll go through when the future you envisioned is suddenly out of reach.
Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod).
Support our work at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as
'Mecca Of Reasonably Priced Medicine'
We’re continuing our series on medical tourism at the border with a story about two women and their journeys to find more affordable insulin in Tijuana.
It’s really a story about the fine line between life and death; the balancing act people with diabetes have to navigate every single day; and how crossing the line between the U.S. and Mexico can be a life raft.
Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.
Not Always About The Money
From KPBS and PRX, “Port of Entry” is launching a new series on medical tourism at the border today.
Up first: We follow a San Diego woman as she crosses the border for alternative cancer treatments in Tijuana.
This isn’t an investigation into the efficacy of alternative cancer treatments. Instead, it’s a story about one woman’s cross-border experience and her own personal convictions.
Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypo
La Familia Es Todo
Our local Latinx community has been hit hard by the pandemic; disproportionately hard.
In today’s special episode, we share one border family’s battle with COVID-19. They explain how they’re using their story to help other Mexican-American families like theirs.
It's a story about trust, and how living at the border can mean living in a place where trust sometimes requires translation.
The Covarrubias family’s fundraiser is here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/29p0mkof1c
Follow “Port of Entry”
Border Voices: Danya
In these “Border Voices” bonus episodes, we feature shorter stories spotlighting people who identify as transborder, fronterizx or simply have something to say about how the U.S.-Mexico border has changed their lives.
Today, meet Danya Gresham, an American expat who left behind her life in the U.S. so she could help take care of orphaned kids in Mexico.
Connect with Danya here:
https://www.buildtherefuge.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheRefugeTJ
Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portof
Border Voices: Pam & Jesse
In these “Border Voices” bonus episodes, we feature shorter stories spotlighting people who identify as transborder, fronterizo or simply have something to say about how the U.S.-Mexico border has changed their lives. Today, meet Jesse Daner and Pamela Figueroa, a cross-border couple who met through their love of learning languages.
Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod).
Sup
Moved By Music: Bostich Of Nortec Collective
Ramón Amezcua, better known as Bostich of Nortec Collective, is famous for blending the classic norteña sounds of Tijuana with electronic music. But making music and touring the world wasn’t always the plan for Ramon. He studied and practiced dentistry, and he thought he'd be filling cavities his whole life. Instead, he became one of the most influential pioneers of electronic music in Mexico. In our recurring “Moved by Music” series, we explore some of the futuristic synths and drum machines th
The Love They Need
We wrap up our series of cross-border love stories with a woman who totally changed her life; dropping what she was doing so she could help take care of some of the border region’s most vulnerable kids instead. It’s a story about kids in need of love, and one woman’s work to turn her own personal pain into power and purpose.
Connect with Corazon de Vida: www.corazondevida.org
Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Insta
Till Deportation Do Us Part?
Our series on cross-border love stories continues. Today, two families separated by deportation share stories about how their love keeps them connected despite the border wall between them.
Episode art by @Deportedartist: https://www.instagram.com/deportedartist
Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod).
Support our work at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gif
Stay Or Go?
Today on “Port of Entry,” we continue our series of cross-border love stories with a former Tijuana booster who grapples with his relationship with the city as it continues to suffer from record-breaking violence and other problems he can no longer ignore. *There is explicit language in this episode.
Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod).
Support our work at www.kpbs.org/dona
Apps Breaking Borders
Today on “Port of Entry,” we launch a series of cross-border love stories. First up: How smart-phone applications are playing matchmaker for people on opposite sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod).
Support our work at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift. If your business or
Border Voices: Ebony
Ebony Bailey is a filmmaker currently based in Mexico City. As an American with Mexican and African roots, she identifies as “Blaxican.” And she’s drawn to telling stories like her own — stories about the mixing of cultures and the beauty that comes from it. Ebony made a film about Black migrants in Tijuana, and we talk to her about that and more in this “Border Voices” bonus episode. Our “Border Voices” series features shorter episodes spotlighting people who identify as transborder, fronterizx
Border Voices: Paulina
Bienvendidos to our first-ever bonus episode. Our new “Border Voices” series will feature shorter episodes spotlighting people who identify as transborder, fronterizx or simply have a story to tell about their relationship with the U.S.-Mexico border. First up: Paulina Olvera Cáñez, founder of Espacio Migrante, a migrant shelter in Tijuana.
Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentryp
Moved By Music: Jorge Gonzalez
Latin music has deep connections to Africa. In our recurring “Moved by Music” series, we talk to border people about music from both sides of the border. Today, Afro-Mexican researcher Jorge Gonzalez takes us on a mini trip through the evolution of Latin music, helping trace some of its roots and influences back to West Africa. It’s like a playlist with a side of history lesson.
Port of Entry Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/36075g71vs22og6334SmAK?si=2IfdPH7MTbKnxjcWk6q9Cw
Books:
Mu
Black Expats
A growing number of Black expats are now calling Mexico home. In a new episode, we talk to people who’ve left the U.S. to find some refuge from racism south of the border. From KPBS and PRX, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us.
Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod).
Support our work at www.kpbs.org/donate. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor
Voting On Both Sides
Some people in San Diego and Tijuana can vote on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.
In a new episode of “Port of Entry," we profile three of these binational citizens who can vote in elections in the U.S. and Mexico. And while you might think these folks all fall on the same side of the political fence when it comes to how they vote, actually these three are all surprisingly different.
Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypod
Black At The Border
This is “Port of Entry,” where we tell cross-border stories that connect us. From KPBS and PRX, our debut episode launches a series on race and politics with a story about how the Black Lives Matter movement is crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. It’s a story about the intersection of migrant rights and Black rights and introduces some of the people behind the Black Lives Matter movement in Tijuana.
This episode would not exist without the help of Espacio Migrante: www.espaciomigrante.org
Follo
This Is Port of Entry
"Only Here" is now "Port of Entry."
From KPBS and PRX, "Port of Entry" brings you cross-border stories that connect us.
If you were already a subscriber, the transition should be seamless for you. Just be sure to make a mental note of our new logo and name so you can find us when you need to.
For the rest of you who haven’t become loyal listeners yet, you can subscribe at www.portofentrypod.org, on Apple podcasts or wherever you listen.
And if you have any border stories you’d like to sh
Shooting in Tijuana
This episode first aired in September 2019.
Los Angeles is a giant when it comes to making movies.
Here in San Diego and Tijuana, we’re stuck under the huge shadow of L.A. It’s hard to compete with Hollywood. But think about it: the border has good bones for eventually becoming a film mecca. It’s one, big, super diverse place that offers access to two really different backdrops. Plus, shooting a film in Mexico is a lot cheaper. And there’s not as much red tape when it comes to permits.
Unfor
Getting An Education On The Other Side
This episode first aired in April 2019.
According to the federal government, about 90,000 people cross legally through the San Ysidro Port of Entry every single day.
Among those daily crossers are the hundreds of students who live in Tijuana, but get their education in San Diego.
The international trek to school is long and annoying. But it can also be traumatic.
Today, a story about students who cross the international border for their education, and a teacher who’s trying to better u
Check Out Rad Scientist
We want to tell you about an exciting new season of KPBS Explore podcast, "Rad Scientist."
Recent events involving the killing of unarmed Black people have brought discussions about racism to the forefront, including at scientific institutions. This season of KPBS Explore podcast "Rad Scientist" is centered on Black scientists, from graduate students to faculty to those who have left the ivory towers. They study bug microbiomes, autism, neural prosthetics and more. But they will also discuss h
The Cleaning Lady
Meet a San Diego artist who dresses up as a “cleaning lady” to force a conversation about immigrant women.
This episode first aired in June 2019.
About the Show:
“Only Here” is about the unexplored subcultures, creativity and struggles at the U.S.-Mexico border. The KPBS podcast tells personal stories from people whose lives are shaped by the tension reverberating around the wall. This is a show for border babies, urban explorers or those who wonder what happens when two cultures are both sep
Lowriders Built By The Border
- This episode first aired in October of 2019. -
Lowriders are big in Japan.
These days, the customized, slow and low to the ground cars and bikes can be found almost anywhere. Lowriding is a culture created by Chicanos and exported all over the world.
But at the border, the lowrider scene is a lifeline. For lots of people here, lowriders are much more than just a hobby.
The culture that’s coalesced around lowriders on both sides of the border has offered some people here salvation. It’s gi
Slowing The Flow
In this episode: A story about trash and dirt flowing from one side of the U.S.-Mexico border to the other, and two guys’ plan to stop it.
This episode first aired in December of 2019.
About the Show:
“Only Here” is about the unexplored subcultures, creativity and struggles at the U.S.-Mexico border. The KPBS podcast tells personal stories from people whose lives are shaped by the tension reverberating around the wall. This is a show for border babies, urban explorers or those who wonder what
Undocumented And Gay
For years, Beto Soto had two secrets.
And these weren’t small secrets. These were really big secrets. The kind that define who you are.
Soto is openly gay now, but he didn’t come out of the closet until a few years ago. He's also been living without citizenship papers in the United States since his family brought him here when he was 6. He kept his undocumented status quiet until recently, too.
In this episode from our archive, we talk to Soto about being gay and undocumented, and the photogr
Pandemic As Pretext
The perception that the U.S.-Mexico border’s been effectively sealed shut because of the pandemic is wrong.
Lots of people are still crossing.
Actually, the biggest, most dramatic change in who can’t cross right now; you’re not going to find those folks at the ports of entry.
Instead, you have to look inside Tijuana’s migrant shelters, and at the refugees who can’t seek asylum in the U.S. right now and are instead stuck in border towns.
So that's what we do today. We talk to a migrant stu
Moved By Music: Panca
Everyone has songs they treasure — songs that evoke vivid memories and color different periods of our lives.
Sometimes, music ends up shaping who we become.
For Paola Villaseñor, better known as the influential border artist Panca, music from both sides of the border has been a lifelong companion whenever she’s painting. Sometimes, lyrics from songs or traces of the flow and melody of music can be found in her final works.
Today, we’ve got a story about one of our border region’s most well-
From One Side To The Other
We caught up with Jenn Budd at Las Americas mall a few months before the pandemic hit.
Jenn has become well known in the border activism world. Her criticisms of U.S. immigration policies and Customs and Border Protection are harsh, and very personal. Because Jenn; she used to be a Border Patrol agent herself.
Today, a story about a big perspective shift at the border. It’s also a story about how some people have to hit rock bottom before they change.
About the Show:
“Only Here” is about
Latin Music Goes Boom
Today we're tracing the story of how Latin music became as popular as American pop music, all through the eyes of Isabela Raygoza. Isabela is a music journalist from Tijuana and San Diego whose career very closely paralleled the boom in Latin music that's happened over the past decade.
Back in the day, when Latin stars wanted to cross over into pop music, they would have to start singing in English. Nowadays, you have music icons crossing over the other way: singing in Spanish.
About the Show
Conversation: A Chef Returns To His Border Roots
Ruffo Ibarra Arellano is a pedigreed chef.
With his resume, he could be working at some of the fanciest Michelin-star restaurants in the world.
But he chose to be here, running a restaurant in Tijuana instead.
Because Ruffo loves his roots.
And he wants his food to be infused with them.
Obviously, the coronavirus pandemic is deeply impacting Ruffo’s work and his restaurant.
It’s impacting all of us. But restaurants are being hit particularly hard.
Ruffo’s team had just finished remod
Conversation: Undocumented On Center Stage
Dulce Garcia is undocumented, but her status has mostly fueled her ambition, not stifled it.
Dulce’s an immigration lawyer. And she’s recently become one of the most high profile immigrant advocates working on the border today.
Coronavirus And The Border
We know what’s on your mind right now: the coronavirus.
And we know you, our cross-border audience, you’ve probably got one big question completely dominating your brainwaves: will our border close? Or, when our border closes, what exactly will happen?
So, we’re gonna hit the pause button on our normal programming and bring you some news you can use right now.
Max Rivlin-Nadler covers the border for KPBS. Max gives us the most up-to-date information he has as of recording time: 1:30 p.m. T
Conversation: TJ Gastro Park Eyeing SD
Telefónica Gastro Park has grown into one of the most popular destinations for both locals and tourists in Tijuana.
We continue our conversation-style episodes with Antonio Gamboa, the founder of the foodie hot spot, which has always attracted a big cross-border crowd.
Antonio describes how his parking lot filled with food trucks sprouted organically and eventually grew into the sophisticated collection of food trucks, beer, wine, art and coffee that it is now. He also breaks a bit of food n
Border Art: Deportation Stories
In a new episode of KPBS' border podcast "Only Here," we continue our series on border art with a mural that's broadcasting the voices of deportees and those commonly known as DREAMers, children brought to the U.S. illegally as children.
From heart-wrenching stories about parents being deported and separated from their kids to first-hand accounts of what it’s like to start a new life in a new country, the mural painted on the actual border fence uses technology to share stories of deportation
Conversation: Talking Tacos
We’ve got something new for listeners. In addition to our long-form, deep dive episodes, we’re going to try something new by sprinkling in more low-key, casual conversations with interesting people who live cross-border lives. You'll know it's happening when you see the word "conversation" in the title of the episode.
To be honest, the highly produced episodes you’re used to hearing take a lot of time. Between field recordings, research, sound design and writing, it’s just a ton of work. We ha
The Unpredictable Border Line Beast
The line of cars and people waiting to cross the San Ysidro Port of Entry is so big — so long — it’s got its own gravitational pull. It’s created this whole world of its own, an ecosystem that swirls all around it. A shorter line would be a thing of beauty.
The long line is actually a problem that the federal governments and local business leaders on both sides of the border are trying to solve. Because the border equals money.
In this episode, we bring you sounds from the border line, then
A Quick Update And Some News
We wanted to take a minute or two to tell y’all about some exciting developments for the Only Here podcast team. We were recently selected to be part of a prestigious podcast accelerator program that’s pushing us to experiment, take risks and step outside of our creative comfort zones when it comes to this show.
We were one of just six public media stations from across the country chosen to be a part of a grant program called Project Catapult. We’re suuuper excited and honored to be a part of i
Border Art: Opera Breaking Barriers
Anishka Lee-Skorepa wants to break cultural barriers surrounding both the border and opera music. The San Diego opera singer is part of Artistas Fronterizas, a group that works to paint a clearer picture of border life through performances in places where opera doesn't normally go. Our series of episodes focused on border art continues with a story about an opera singer who’s painting a clearer picture of border culture through song.
Slowing The Flow
In this episode: A story about trash and dirt flowing from one side of the U.S.-Mexico border to the other, and two guys’ plan to stop it.
The state of California spends $1.8 million annually on a system that keeps trash and dirt from clogging up the estuary in Border Field State Park, a park that butts up against the U.S.-Mexico border fence.
The agency that takes care of the park, the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, says the system has stopped approximately 2 million pou
Border Art: The Godfather
Today, we’re kicking off an ongoing series of episodes about border art. In this episode, we talk to a guy we're calling the godfather of border art. He's the guy who helped put border art on the map: Marcos Ramírez, a Tijuana artist most people know as “Erre.”
Border art is art at the actual border fence, art about the border, and often times, it’s both.
It feels weird to say that the U.S.-Mexico border wall inspires artists. Because mostly, it pisses them off.
Not to lump all artists int
Beer Xing
We've got a story about border-hopping beer. Meet the brothers behind Cerveceria Insurgente in Tijuana, and cross the border with Stephen Walker, a craft-beer lover who's built a business by bringing Mexican craft beer to San Diego. Only here will you find a craft beer scene shaped by both sides of the wall.
Lowriders Built By The Border
La Vuelta is a biweekly car cruise in Barrio Logan that runs through the summer. The event has become the heart of lowrider culture here in San Diego.
These days, the customized slow- and low-to-the-ground cars and bikes can be found almost anywhere. Lowriding has become a culture created by Chicanos and exported all over the world. It’s big in Japan. No, seriously. Not to mention in Brazil and other lowrider hot spots.
But at the border, the lowrider scene is a lifeline. For lots of people
Shooting in Tijuana
Los Angeles is a giant when it comes to making movies.
Here in San Diego and Tijuana, we’re stuck under the huge shadow of L.A. It’s hard to compete with Hollywood. But think about it: the border has good bones for eventually becoming a film mecca. It’s one, big, super diverse place that offers access to two really different backdrops. Plus, shooting a film in Mexico is a lot cheaper. And there’s not as much red tape when it comes to permits.
Unfortunately, though, a lot of large-scale produ
Border Church: Protecting Pinkie Kisses
The Border Church, or La Iglesia Fronteriza, is not a brick-and-mortar church. In fact, the only wall here at this weekly outdoor service is the one separating the United States from Mexico. Border Church is an outdoor church that meets every Sunday on both sides of the international border fence between San Diego and Tijuana. The weekly church service is a religious celebration, but it also helps ensure that Border Patrol will continue to allow people to use this place as a meeting point.
This
Part 2: Dog Crossing
Dog Crossing Part 2: In this episode, we meet Elizabeth Valenzuela who runs another DIY Baja dog rescue operation called Red Barn Rescue, plus other women who've dedicated their lives to saving animals living on the streets of Mexico. We also stop by an adoption event in San Diego where Baja Animal Sanctuary finds new homes for its rescued dogs.
In the last episode, KPBS’ Kinsee Morlan and Emily Jankowski introduced you to Dana Dallabetta, an animal rescuer who saves street dogs in Rosarito an
Part 1: Dog Crossing
Dog Crossing Part 1: We spend a day with a hardcore dog rescuer in Rosarito. Only here will you find a community of animal lovers who’ve dedicated their lives to saving dogs in Rosarito and Tijuana by finding them homes in San Diego. This is the first in a two-part series.
Building A Cross-Border District
Only here can you find entrepreneurs in San Diego and Tijuana who are working to build a bigger and better-designed cross-border region.
The Sound of Spanglish
In border towns, Spanglish is everywhere. Blending Spanish with English helps the two countries communicate. It’s a natural and necessary byproduct of the border. In this episode, a story about a musician and composer who’s fallen in love with the sound of Spanglish.
The Cleaning Lady
Only here can you find a San Diego artist who dresses up as a “cleaning lady” to force a conversation about immigrant women.
Crossing For Punk
Only here can you find a San Diego photographer whose inspiration lies in the dark, crowded punk venues of Tijuana.
All music in this episode is by Tijuana punk band San Pedro El Cortez.
A Seamstress' Story
On this episode of “Only Here,” a story about a seamstress who’s trying to build community connections while building her business in Barrio Logan, a neighborhood that’s fighting to keep its Chicano culture alive.
Holding Tourists' Hands
Today, we hop on a bus with the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego and take a guided tour of art and culture in Tijuana. It’s the kind of tour that shows off the cool side of the city — the kind of tour that’s kept tourism alive in a border city with a reputation for violence. It’s a story about fear, and an industry that’s blossomed from it.
Gringo Xolos
Tijuana’s professional soccer team, the Xoloitzcuintles, have fans on both sides of the border.
In fact, the Xolos’ official tagline is “el equipo sin fronteras” — the team without borders.
Today, we talk to self-described “Gringo Xolos,” a growing group of fans in San Diego who are obsessed with the soccer team in Tijuana.
Getting An Education On The Other Side
According to the federal government, about 90,000 people cross legally through the San Ysidro Port of Entry every single day.
Among those daily crossers are the hundreds of students who live in Tijuana, but get their education in San Diego.
The international trek to school is long and annoying. But it can also be traumatic.
Today, a story about students who cross the international border for their education, and a teacher who’s trying to better understand them.
Only here can you find stu
Political Piñatas
When artist Diana Benavídez makes piñatas, they aren't meant to be broken. They get put on pedestals. They become sculptures meant to provoke conversations.
Giant tampons. An over-sized can of pepper spray. A drone. Benavídez’s aren’t your average piñatas.
Today, a story about an object typically known for its destruction, not creation.
Only Here can you find a San Diego artist packing pinatas with political messages instead of candy.
Celebrating Death To Keep Culture Alive
When you don’t live in your family’s homeland, it can be a constant battle to stay connected to your past and traditions.
The American way of life has a way of melting everything into one giant pot full of so many ingredients that the flavors are hardly discernible.
But in Sherman Heights, the community isn’t jumping into that big pot. Instead, they’re keeping the Mexican flavor alive.
In this episode, a story about celebrating death as a way of bringing culture back to life.
We stop by
Migration Music
Leaving one country for another isn't easy. The transition can be challenging and emotional.
And especially for the kids who cross, legally or not, those emotions can be intense.
In this episode, we dissect a new classical music composition commissioned by the San Diego Symphony that explores what immigration feels like for kids.
We also drop by the place where the border fence runs into the Pacific Ocean. The symphony has organized performances on both sides of the border here. It's a pla
Undocumented And Gay
For years, Beto Soto had two secrets.
And these weren’t small secrets. These were really big secrets. The kind that define who you are.
Soto is openly gay now, but he didn’t come out of the closet until a few years ago. He's also been living without citizenship papers in the United States since his family brought him here when he was 6. He kept his undocumented status quiet until recently, too.
In this episode, we talk to Soto about being gay and undocumented, and the photographic series h
Introducing 'Only Here'
Many things created at the border come from the separation and collision of two cultures. Only Here is a podcast about that stuff — the art, food, traditions and culture that exists because of the border.
For many, the border is just a hazy political concept.
But for the those of us who live here, the border is a very real place with a distinct culture of its own. This podcast introduces listeners to the human stories and struggles happening at the border, and the beauty and creativity that